Advances in Snow Sports Equipment and Apparel

Winter sports equipment designers don't like to rest on their laurels. Every season, they come up with innovative designs and inventions that make snow sports easier to learn and more fun to do. Gear designers use state-of-the-art, space-age materials and concepts to make skis and snowboards turn easier, yet feel light on the feet. Snowshoe manufacturers use lighter metals to make snowshoes feel nearly as weightless as an athletic shoe. Boot makers find ways to make boots stiff enough to perform well, yet be soft enough to be comfortable. Apparel designers use technical fabrics that serve as a warm, dry cocoon during a cold, wet snowfall, yet allow the wearer freedom to move.

The women's and children's markets are where many of the most significant changes have taken place during the past half-decade. Both groups have gear and clothing designed especially for them, with manufacturers using the philosophy that women "are not little men" and kids "are not little adults."

Equipment

• The first ever women's cross-country ski features a longer kick zone and a flex pattern designed specifically for women to make the ski easy to start, stop and turn.
• Female-specific snowboards are also available. And since the women's market includes females of all ages, some companies have designed snowboard models for girls.
• Hand warmers are now available to fit a woman's hand and offers better features for keeping hands warm.
• Socks are designed to fit women's feet and offer even more insulation.
• Snowshoe innovators have created new, state-of-the-art models engineered just for women and children. Snowshoes are activity-specific, with different models for winter jogging, walking and backcountry touring.
• Ski boots are using softer material on the part of the boot above the foot. These "soft-shell" boots are more comfortable to walk in and easier to put on and take off. Manufacturers also are putting extra warmth into many women's boots, recognizing that women often have colder feet than men.
• Skis and bindings are starting to be designed and sold as one unit. About 75% of the coming season's high-performance skis will be sold pre-mounted with tracks to take specific bindings. The advantage of designing a ski and binding together is that they can achieve a predictably smooth arc from tip to tail when the ski is flexed in a turn.

$$ Saving Tip
Don't be scared off by the costs of the newest apparel! Before going out to the store, simply check out what you have in your closets. As a beginner, you don't need to spend a lot of money to enjoy yourself and be comfortable. The most important things to remember are to wear water resistant/proof clothes (no jeans), and to dress in layers for maximum warmth.

Specific Examples:

• Head: Incorporates "Intellifibers" into ski construction providing a smoother glide and less vibration and friction.
• Burton: Introduces snowboards designed for women and girls that are lighter and easier to maneuver. Burton uses Outlast (a temperature regulating insulation) in its women's snowboard boots to keep the feet warm.
• Line and Miller Sports: Develops the safer "Pivogy" binding that permits sideways release at the heel.
• Rossignol: Introduces "Rossignol Soft," a soft-shell boot that is warmer and easier to put on and take off than the traditional hard shell, yet is stiff enough to deliver performance while on the hill.
• Alpina Sports: Is offering five new models of female-specific Nordic skis.
• Dolomite: Has a boot that comes with a Hotronic liner for extra warmth.
• Tubbs: Introduces two new women's snowshoe models featuring lightweight frames and sized to optimize a woman's narrower stride.

Apparel
Manufacturers are using lighter, more advanced fabrics that provide warmth, comfort and protection. Music systems are being incorporated into jackets to make snow sports even more fun. Probably the hottest clothing trend for 2003-04 is the "soft-shell" jacket, a marriage of soft fleece fabrics with the protective abilities of a shell outer jacket.

Specific Examples:

• Burton: Debuts the limited-edition Burton Amp, a jacket with an integrated iPod™ digital music player. Wearers can control their music from their sleeve without fumbling with zippers, gloves or pockets. Several other companies have specially designed jacket pockets that hold CD players.
• W.L. Gore & Associates: Develops AirVantage, insulation technology that inflates and deflates according to the wearer's preference
• Coalision/Orage: Using waterproof/breathable denim to make "jeans" specially designed for winter sports.
• Spyder: Introduces a value-oriented collection which utilizes technical features like taped seams and high-tech lightweight insulation.
• Descente: Has technology in which negative ions will be imbedded in the fabric to help relax the wearer.

This article is from Snowsports Industries of America’s web site Winter Feels Good.